David Stone recently proposed a process for beta testing the geared unicycle. He thinks he was kidding but it is actually a very good idea for a couple of reasons. At UNICON and the NAUCC conventions this summer, all people will have an opportunity to ride this unicycle (which I have taken to calling uni.5 but am always open to suggestions) for short periods of time which will be fun but not enough to seriously evaluate it. Also, having it in a venue like that greatly hinders the testers’ abilities to modify the unicycle to their own preferences (tire width, tread, crank length, pedal type, etc). If I actually shipped it around the country (limited to the continental US although there are many Coker riders in the UK and Canada whose input would be valuable), serious riders could spend some time with it and evaluate it more thoroughly.
My goal was to simulate a stock Coker with a 36" wheel and 6" cranks. My interest is in input from Cokerheads, particularly serious power riders like Chris LeFay and distance riders like David Stone. I am not looking for approval. I am looking for the honest opinions of knowledgeable and experienced people who would comprise a market for this type of unicycle. If you think it rides like an arthritic hippopotamus, that tells me something. If it breaks, that tells me something (I have another one anyway). If the gear backlash is too annoying or distracting, that tells me something. If you would never consider buying a unicycle set up this way, that tells me something. If you think it is a screaming, lightweight, road speed monster that you can’t live without, that tells me something too.
I have ridden it about 5 miles while tweaking it and I plan to put my Miyata air seat conversion on it and log another ten miles or so and remeasure the backlash for the third time. Then I would remove the seat, build a wooden, reusable crate and start it on its journey. UPS will ship a wooden crate for $5 extra handling. Approximate shipping cost from Seattle to Miami is $41. Each leg of the journey should be substantially less expensive than this.
RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:
1.) There should be at least one experienced Coker rider at each stop. Anyone else there may also ride it…friends, club members, but no bears.
2.)An approximate log of the mileage at each stop should be kept. Approximate means within a factor of two. If it is used 50 miles at one location, 25 miles and 100 miles are both accurate guesses of the mileage. Anyone interested in donating a used cycle computer?
3.) Only aluminum cranks may be used. The axle is unhardened steel and will gall if steel cranks are installed. Any pedals, seats, or tires may be tried. Please be careful removing or installing components. Always ship it to the next stop with the 6" cranks installed. I will provide a Torker seat on a 300mm post that I have no use for if I have one response from someone who cannot provide their own seat and seatpost.
4.) You must pay the shipping costs to the next stop.
5.) The uni.5 should probably remain resident at each stop for no more than a week, particularly in warm climes where it might become too comfortable and take to wearing swimming suits and muscle shirts. An exception might be made for the New York club and the Minneapolis club where there are several riders.
6.) You should be willing to give comments and discuss your impressions with the other riders in an open forum in which I would prefer not to participate except to read them. I want to know what you think. I already like the uni.5 because I am connected to it in a unique way. You cannot insult me or my work by providing valuable information.
Those interested please e-mail me at:
and I will try to set up some kind of schedule. If there are too many responses, please do not be offended if I omit you from the schedule. Thanks for your help.
